Saturday Sampler - TRAPPED by Alison Aimes

HIS PLANET. HIS RULES… Trapped by Alison
Aimes is an action-packed, smoldering sci-fi romance that takes you to the
brink of oblivion on a planet where only the strong survive….When Bella West
crash lands on prison planet Dragath25, the only thing standing between her and
a mass of brutal criminals is one of their own, a ruthless loner known only as
673. But what starts out as a desperate trade based on protection and raw lust
soon blossoms into a scorching need that will push them both to the edge.

A tale of unbridled desire, stunning
sacrifice, and unwavering love, Trapped is the first book in The Condemned
Series.It is available for pre-ordernow.

SYNOPSIS:

Cadet Bella West has one simple objective when she
joins the scientific mission to Dragath25, the notorious prison planet housing
Earth’s condemned. Earn the credits necessary to save her family from
starvation. But when her shuttle crashes and the majority of her crew perish,
her simple mission becomes complicated fast. Now, to stay alive she’ll have to
depend on one of Dragath’s own. But such protection doesn’t come free.

Convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, 673 has become
more beast than man after eight grueling years on an unforgiving, hazardous
planet of dirt and rock—and even more treacherous inhabitants. He doesn’t look
out for anyone but himself and he certainly never grows attached. So when the
bold female offers him pleasure in return for protection, he takes the deal
without hesitation. He never expects how her touch will alter him. Or the
growing realization that saving her may be the key to his own salvation.

But
as dangers mount and their ‘simple’ deal unravels will he prove to be her
surprise savior or her ultimate downfall? Because caring for someone on
Dragath25 may prove the greatest hazard of all.

Book
One in the Condemned Series, Trapped has a HEA ending and can be read as a
stand alone.

EXCERPT:

“Come.” He held
out a calloused palm.

She swallowed
hard, her stare raking from his scowling face to his wide chest and muscular
thighs. Payment had already come due.

“It’s okay.” Bella
hurriedly slid her hand into his. Davies offer was unbelievably brave, but
Bella would never allow it. Her colleague was Council—and injured. She’d never
survive this. Plus, the idea of a deal had been Bella’s from the start. And she
couldn’t regret it. Not when they were all still alive.

His skin was
rough—and surprisingly warm.

A shiver slid down
her spine. So much so that it took her a second to realize he’d gone perfectly
still. His gaze locked on their intertwined palms. Something that looked a lot
like wonder etched in the hard planes of his face.

Her gaze skittered
to Davies’. Her colleague looked equally confused.

It hit Bella then.
Human contact. He was reacting to the sensation of touch. Cherishing something
as simple as the heat of her palm against his.

A wave of sympathy
rippled through her. This man might be a criminal, but he was also a living
being. One who had clearly been alone for a very long time.

On instinct, she
interlaced her fingers with his, pressing their hands closer.

He shuddered, his
eyes sinking shut, his face tilting upward, the way a person might delight in
the sun on his face after a hard, dark winter. Her chest went tight.

After a lifetime
of being just one more mouth to feed, one more body that had to be clothed and
housed using Earth’s ever dwindling resources, the feeling of mattering to
someone was unfamiliar—and nice.

“It’s okay.” It was
the same words she’d said before, but this time she meant it. “We‘re on your
side….F—friends.”

His eyes flared
open, his grip tightening, more possessive now than cherishing. All hints of
vulnerability wiped away. “I’m not looking for a friend.”

AUTHOR BIO:

About Alison Aimes:

Alison
Aimes is the award-winning author of the sexy sci fi Condemned series and the
contemporary romance Billionaire's Revenge series.

A PhD graduate in Modern History, she's always had a love for
dramatic stories and great books. Now, she's moving across eras to create sexy
stories full of intrigue, action, and passion, but always with a happy ending.

She lives in Maryland with her husband, two kids, and her
dog. When not in front of the computer, she can be found hanging with family
and friends, hiking, trying to turn herself into a pretzel through yoga,
listening to TED talks about pretty much anything, but especially space, or,
last but not least, sitting on her couch imagining her characters' next great
adventures.

Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction.
For more info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com

Thanks, Diane. What an incredible group of supportive, lovely readers you have on your site. I honestly don't think I've come across such a warm, wonderful group anywhere else on my book tour. You've created something very special here. Thank you for letting me be a part.

Hi Patricia. Thank you so much. I'm thrilled to hear you liked the excerpt. I had such fun writing Trapped. It's sexy, action-packed, a little gritty, and a lot romance. I'd love to hear what you think so please feel free to get in touch.

And thank you again, Diane, for helping me get the word out. You've clearly got an amazing site with a ton of wonderful, supportive readers!!!

Hi Leah. Thank you so much! You are too kind. One of the most fun parts of writing Trapped was experiencing how the hero, who'd shut down in an effort to survive such a harsh, violent place and become almost animal-like, changed as a result of his interaction with the heroine. It definitely wasn't always a comfortable or easy change for him. I hope you'll get in touch and tell me what you think of his full journey. Thank you again for such lovely comment.

Hi Alicia. Thank you for saying all that. It feels like an especially big score as scifi romance isn't even your first love. :) I write steamy contemporary romances as well and enjoy the different pace of those as well, but writing this scifi romance (my first in this genre) has definitely made me want to write more. I hope you'll get in touch if you do read Trapped and let me know what you think. Maybe I'll be able to turn you into a scifi romance lover, after all? :)

Hi Marissa. Thank you so much. I'm thrilled you liked the excerpt. It was a moving scene to write--but what comes next between them was even more fun to write. :) I hope if you decide to read Trapped you'll get in touch and let me know what you think.

Hi Susan. Thank you so much for your kind words and the well wishes. It means so much. I hope if you decide to read Trapped you will get in touch and let me know what you think. I had one kind reader tell me the hero stayed with her long after she turned the last page and I'm hoping you feel the same.

Hi. Thank you so much for your generous words about the excerpt. Truly appreciated! Are you a yogi too? I think my favorite position is probably legs up the wall so, given my training, I'd never make it in a harsh world like Dragath25 where Trapped takes place, but it does help me survive a lot of hours in front of the computer.

Hi Connie. Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your kind words about the excerpt and the synopsis. Funnily enough, I have a lot of fun writing the synposis (a task many writers hate) but titles...ack! I'm terrible at those. The worst! So, hearing you say the synopsis works makes me feel a little better about my deficiencies in other areas. :) I hope if you decide to read Trapped you'll get in touch and let me know what you think.

Hi Susan. Such encouraging, kind words! Thank you. I am writing the second in the series now and learning more and more about this raw, harsh planet and the people who are able to not only survive, but find a way to love and flourish. The next in the series takes place in the depths of the planet in a prison mining camp--and it's HOT down there in the depths in more ways than one. :)

Hi Pamela. Thank you so much. No worries. I am so untech savy that I missed all these posts too. Thankfully, Diane brought them to my attention so I could come back and respond. Your kind words are truly appreciated!

Hi MJ. Thank you so much! You've summed up my central plot so beautifully and succinctly. Sure wish I'd thought to say it in that way when I was trying to explain it to my friends and family, but brevity is definitely not my forte. :) Thank you too for the kinds words. I hope that after you read Trapped you'll get in touch. I'd love to hear what you think.

What a fascinating excerpt - I really want to read this now - and as a fellow SF romance writer I have to agree with what you say about writing a synopsis - I too find them far easier than coming up with a title!